In a bid to reduce waste the country produces, a 0.05- to 0.1-euro charge for disposable plastic bags will be introduced at supermarkets next month, the Environment Ministry has announced.

The measure comes in response to a circular approved by European Parliament in May, 2015, whereby European Union member-states are required to reduce the annual disposal of plastic bags to 90 per person by the end of 2019 and 40 by 2025, or to ensure that a levy is introduced for plastic bags by the end of 2018.

The EU average currently stands at 198 per year per resident, while there are large discrepancies between member-states.

Denmark and Finland have already reduced their figures to just four per person annually, compared to more than 400 bags per person in countries like Portugal, Hungary, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia.

In Greece, 242 bags are used per person on an annual basis, while in Cyprus the figure is 125.

“I believe the consumption of plastic bags in our country is higher,” said Giorgos Papatheodorou, coordinator of the Life De-Bag program. “This means we have some way to go. We must align with EU law, so that the faster we take action, the better.”

The measure has already been introduced as a pilot program on several islands, including Syros and Alonisos.

The Greek government this week announced that a small contributory fee will be slapped on plastic bags used in the country as of Jan. 1, 2018, a measure aimed at reining in the use of the material by super markets and other retailers. Only bags thinner than 15 mm will be exempted, a category that usually involves small plastic bags used for carrying pharmaceuticals or green groceries.

The measure, which has already been published in the relevant government gazette, mandates a fee of three (03) cents per plastic bag, but which can be redeemed via recycling.

Street-side kiosks and outdoor fruit and vegetable markets are also exempt from the measure.

The law also mandates that super markets promote biodegradable plastic bags, multiple use bags or even used plastic bags.

From January 1 next year Greeks will have to pay 3 cents for lightweight plastic bags such as those currently given away at supermarkets and other stores. The charge will rise to 0.07 euros from January 1, 2019.

At the moment each Greek uses an average of some 400 plastic bags per year.

It's 3 cents but with 24% VAT it's rounded up to the stated 4 cents. (which is what Lidl have charged for years).Will rise later as planned. Then maybe staggered like water cubic metres. 9 cents for the 1st plastic bag, 15 for the second...... etc. etc.

Just a month in, an initiative aimed at reducing consumers’ dependence on plastic carrier bags by charging for them appears to be bearing fruit, as some supermarkets have recorded a drop of as much as 50 percent.